It’s a good read

It’s a really good read, and it helps enormously that these are real providers talking about their services. I was struck by Agincare UK Surrey who are a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to around 85 people in their own homes. In January 2017, an CQC inspection resulted in a rating of inadequate, June 2017 rated the services as requires improvement, and in January 2018 the inspection rating was ‘good’.

Open and honest

The experiences of the service and its new manager is a real ‘hands up’ about past failings and their path to improvement, from taking on less work to ensure clients calls were delivered, staff were supported and a clear audit to reduce incidents. ‘Bev’s Top tips’ will be helpful to view.

We aren’t all out of the same mould

Let’s not forget one size does not fit all (as I discovered once when I tried on my husband’s size 13 shoes!). The dynamics of your service will be different, but the basics are the same.

So you want to drive improvement? Tips on what will help...

So before you reach for the phone book (if anyone still has one) and break open a consultant – here are some helpful tips:

Abi has worked for and with Government agencies relevant to social care for the past 12+ years. Primarily with the Department of Health, Social Services Inspectorate, Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and since its inception the Care Quality Commission (CQC). As part of this long involvement Abi has developed a wide and detailed understanding of relevant issues and has worked closely with stakeholders such as people that use services, carers, providers, local government, the Department of Health, Ofsted and the Audit Commission. Read more